Advertising device and method of making the same



Oct. 4, 1932. D Q HODGKHN 1,881,417

ADVERTISING DEVICE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Oct. 5, 1928 I5 Sheets-Sheet l 0cm 4, 1932. D. c. HODGKIN ADVERTISING DEVICE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed C 5. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 3mm M M M 1 Patented 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE DUBBIN C. HODGHIN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOB 01' ON]- FOURTH TO TOM B. OWENS, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS Application filed October 5, 1m. Serial No. 810,581.

This invention relates to an'improvement in advertising devices and methods Of making the same.

The object of the inventionis to provide,

noveland attractive advertisements of an unusual character for the purpose of at-tractmg attention and fixing in the mind of the person viewing the advertisement. the object thereof. This object is carried out by creating variations in the advertisement,.either of alluobject or the like on the front. I do not confine the foregoing to the colors named, but have discovered that any colorseven black and whitemay be employed in the same manner, for instance, red backed up withblack will makea brown surface and if the surrounding ground be brown, the result is equally effective. No so-called colored light rays are necessary for this effect.

I have discovered that white inks, paints, crayons, etc. commonly known to art as opaque, are, when applied thin and in the proper consistency, decidedly transparent or translucent and when subjected to the rays of transmitted white light become a strong grey or brownish grey. If then, a white image be painted on a grey ground and subjected to transmitted white light rays, the grey will remain grey while the white will appear as a neutral tone of brownish grey and disappear, becoming completely lost in the grey background. This is also reversible, the image may be grey and the ground white.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the sign cas- 8;;

Fig. 2 is a front view of a sign embodying the present invention ;v

Fig. 3 is a rear View of the same, illustrate ing the picture painted on the back;

Fig. 4 is a front view of another sign;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the same;

Figs. 6 and 7 are corresponding views of :nother sign illustrating another modifica- ,The casin illustrated in Fig. 1 is designated genera ly by the numeral 1, being provided with a lamp 2, arranged therein for transmitting rays of light from the rear through the sign 3. This light 2 may be flashed or alternately switched off and on in any well known manner,'as by the use .of thermostatic or other flasher switches. The sign 3 is carried by a frame 4 which may be removable from the casing 1 to facilitate changing of the sign. Lights may be arran ed 1n front of the sign 3 or the frontmay be i uminated by dayelight as found desirable. However it" is to be understood that the use of the term transmitted light or its equiva lent refers to the light transmitted from the lamp 2, from the back of-the sign, while reflected light refers to the illumination from the front. It is also understood that the advertisement may be printed, drawn or otherwise applied to the sign 3, and while it is referred to throughout this specification as being painted thereon, this is merely for purposes of illustration.

In Figs. 2 and 3, by the flash of transmitted light rays the dog is'made to roll his eyes from one side to the other, his mouth opens, his tongue protrudes, and his ear pricks up. The numeral 5 illustrates the dogs ear fiapped down, 6 shows the dogs ear pricked up. The dogs eyes .are cast to the right, as at 7 in Fig. 2, but are looking straight out, as at 8 in Fig. 3. 9 in Fig. 2 shows the dogs mouth closed and 10 in Fig. 3 shows the dogs mouth open displaying his tongue, teeth, etc.

This change is accomplished by the use of transmitted light through any translucent or transparent surface and may use what is commonly known as white light, in which as near as scientifically possible all the visible rays of the s 'ctruin are present. rays have a ten ency, for instance in Fig. 1 to dissipate the strength of the front eyes to such an extent that, when placed 1n juxtaposition to the back e es, which are enhanced m color value, the ront or reflected light eyes are completel obliterated while the back eyes are thoroug ly and intensel visible, causing such an illusion that the o s eyes apparently roll from side to side w en the transmitted light rays are flashed ofl and on alternately. v In Fig. 2, the dog ma be of a slightly lighter or shghtly darker ue or shade or color than the dog s head. In the former case, in Fi 3, the ear 6 would be darkened on the b'ac of the picture to match the color of the head in Fig. 2, caueng its total disa pearance under :transma rays. In the atter instance, where the ear is painted, darker than the head on the front, then the head on the back would be darkened sufliciently to cause the total disappearance of the ear under transmitted rays. Employing, also in this instance, the method of ainting an object on the back of a transucent surface which is invisible under reflected rays, because of the opacity of the surface under reflected rays, and visible under transmitted rays, I paint an extra do s ear 6 straight upon the back so that when t e transmitted rays flash on they absorb the front or down ear, rendering it invisible and cause the u ear 6 to become visible. B alternately ashing the transmitted rays 0 and on the action of a flapping ear becomes startlingly natural.

'The outline of the dogs mouth is shown at 9. On the reverse or back picture at 10 4Q -I paint the dogs mouth 0 n and by using a darker shade into whic the mouth line 9. is absorbed or lost, by transmitted rays, the illusion of the dog openin and closing his mouth is created perfectly g alternately flashing the transmitted rays 0 and on.

I do not confine myself to the foregoing motions of the dog. He may wag his tai raise his foot, jump through a hoop or any other action common to animals. to In Figs. 4 and 5, I show the new method of causing gr? objects to disappear on white by transmitte rays. In Fig. 4 t e coat, cape, etc. 11 is painted in pure white. The lines at 12 are painted in grey, when the transs5 mitted rays penetrate the translucent or transparent material, this white surface (coat) will turn exactly the same grey as the hues 12, renderin them totally invisible.

In Fig. 5, the ack or reverse picture, I so paint the body 13 in any color, or black or white, and make use of the method of painting an object on the back by painting the arms 14 and the outstretched cape 15 in any color or shade, includin black, and when I the transmitted rays flas on, absorbing the s ear is shown down and get? lines 12, rendering the outline of the y perfectly smooth and the outstretched arms and cape, etc., are made visible, and the startlin illusion of the woman opening her coat an displaying corset, bodice, nude, etc., is created.

By this same method, using a grey background around the woman with white legs and by outlining one leg on the reverse picture, and painting an extra leg straight up on the rear, she can be made to kick perfectly. Any other human action can be so rtrayed.

This absorption is reversible. he background may be either grey or white, and the ob 'ect the reverse.

n Fig. 6, I show a winter scene, snow ice, bare trees, etc. In Fig. 7, the reverse or ack picture, I show .a summer scene. B the alternate flashing of the transmitte li hts, these scenes are made to quickly change m one to another. In this icture I make use of the method of absorbmg by transmitted white li ht rags any light shade or color or any dar sha e or color alike or difierent, both being printed on the front side of the surface to be displa ed.

For instance, in ig. 6 the trunk of the tree 26 may be dark brown with yellow or blue white highlights to indicate snow. When viewed by the transmitted light these snow spots wil be absorbed and totally disap er in the dark brown of the tree trunk yet th are ainted on the front of the surface. The dar ever-green trees 27 in Fig. 6 may have yellow, thin white or light green high li hts yet when viewed by transmitted light t ese will disappear and absorb into the dark green of the trees.

Also in this picture I make use of the meth- 0d of absorbing a color or shade, with transmitted rays, by paint-in on the back or re-' verse side an entirely ifierent color. For instance, the round 28 may be painted in thin white wit appropriate shadows to indicate drifts of snow and the ,water 29 may be gainted in dull whitemy to indicate ice.

n the reverse side in ig. 7, the ground 30 will be painted in vivid greens and yellows to indicate grass, while t e water-31 will be painted in vivid blue (this also applies to the sky) and the mountains will be painted in purple. Leaves will be painted for the trees, etc. Under the transmitted rays the thin white and shadows of 28 will totally disappear and become brilliant greens, etc. of 30. The dull white-grey of 29 will become vivid blue; the sky will change to blue and the mountains from white to purple. Leaves will appear on the trees and the entire scene a bright day-light scene may be com letely changed to a night scene in which t e sky turns dark and the moon and stars appear, or a scene of a ship on an ocean may change to an automobile on a road or any other complete change may be eflected. I do not confine myself to any particular colors in this eflect using such as may be desired for artistic and life-' like pictures.

I claim l. The method of making advertising matter including illustrating at least a portion of an object on a side of a display surface to be viewed by reflected light, said portion being illustrated b grey and the body portion thereof by w ite, to disappear when Viewed by transmitted light.

2. The method of making advertising matter including illustrating an object on a side of a display surface to be viewed by reflected light, said object being indicated by grey and the body portion thereof being white, to disappear when viewed by transmitted light, and illustrating the same object behind the display surface to be viewed by transmitted light, said second illustration having at least portions thereof corresponding to portions of the first illustration in different positions therefrom, to indicate a change of position or motion.

3. The method of making advertising matter comprising illustrating at least a portion of an object in a neutral color on a side of a display surface to be viewed by reflected light, surrounding the same with a color to which said first mentioned color is neutral, and subjecting said illustration to transmitted light to cause a disappearance thereof.

4. The method of making advertising matter comprising illustrating an object on the front side of a display surface to be viewed by reflected light, said object having the outline thereof in a neutral color, surrounding the same with a color to which said first mentioned color is neutral and subjecting said object to transmitted light to cause a disappearance thereof.

5. The method of making advertising matter including illustrating an object in white and a neutral color on a display surface to be'viewed by reflected light, which when subjected to transmitted light will merge disappear and absorb the outline of said object.

6. The method of making advertising matter including illustrating an object in white and a neutral color on a display surface to be viewed by reflected light, which when subjected to transmitted light will merge, disappear and absorb the outline of said object, and illustrating an object behind said displaiy surface to be viewed by transmitted 7. An advertising device comprisin translucent material having adisplay applied to a surface thereof and represented by'neutral and white colors, to be viewed by reflected light, said neutral colors merging with the white and disappearing when subjected to transmitted light.

8. An advertising device comprising translucent material havinga display applied to a surface thereof and represented by white and neutral colors, as brownish ey or the like to be viewed by reflected light, said display being adapted to be subjected to transmltted light to cause the neutral colors to merge with the white and cause a disappearance of the object.

9. An advertising device comprising a translucent surface having a display applied thereto, and represented by neutral and white colors to be viewed by reflected light, said white surrounding the neutral color or colors to cause a mergence therewith and a disappearance when subjected to transmitted light.

10. A method of making display matter comprising illustrating a scene in white and a color neutral thereto on a display surface to be viewed by reflected light, said colors being disposed in relation to each other to cause the scene to disappear when subjected to transmitted light, and illustrating a different scene behind said first-mentioned scene to be viewed when subjected to transmitted 1i ht. I I

ll. A method of making display matter comprising illustrating a scene in'white and a color neutral thereto on a display surface to be viewed by reflected light, said colors being disposed in relation to each other to cause the scene to disappear when subjected to transmitted light.

whereof I afiix my signature.

In testimony DURBIN O. HODGKI'N. 

